Who to start · 2025-26
Christian Dvorak vs Nick Schmaltz
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Nick Schmaltz projects to 2.05 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Christian Dvorak's 1.42.
Dvorak had 51 points in 80 games; Schmaltz had 74 in 82 games.
This week Dvorak has 1 game left; Schmaltz has 2 left. We project Schmaltz for 3.1 ESPN points to Dvorak's 1.1.
Nick Schmaltz has the better number in 27 of the 36 stats both are ranked on.
Dvorak's biggest edges: Faceoff win % 54.5%, Draw Equity /100 +0.056, On-ice PDO 1027.
Schmaltz's biggest edges: Goals above expected +5.3, Fenwick 55.7%, Corsi 55.9%.
Head to head on the dot, Dvorak leads Schmaltz 14–4.
- • 2026-27 so far: 2 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 3 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 1 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 2 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Christian Dvorak
1.42
fantasy points per game
Nick Schmaltz
2.05
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Nick Schmaltz has the edge.
| Points per game from | Dvorak | Schmaltz |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.40 | 0.88 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.36 | 0.47 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.03 | 0.11 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.01 | 0.01 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.18 | 0.25 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.06 | 0.03 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.38 | 0.30 |
Per-game rates from the selected sample; blended mixes last season with this season, weighting this season more as games are played. Categories are scored as z-scores against qualified players at the same position. Your custom weights are saved in this browser only.
Head-to-head: Dvorak vs Schmaltz
Every event between them in NHL play-by-play, 2017-18 to 2025-26: games against each other, faceoffs, shots on goal, hits and penalties. Regular season and playoffs.
Dvorak 4G 2A, 15 SOG · Schmaltz 4G 9A, 19 SOG
Dvorak's offensive zone 0–0 · neutral 4–2 · Dvorak's defensive zone 10–2 (2017-18 to 2025-26)
Goals each scored with the other picking up an assist (as teammates).
On the ice against each other (Dvorak's side)
6:36 at 5-on-5 over 2 games, 2025-26, from Dvorak's side
- Shot attempts
- 7–7
- 50.0%
- Expected goals
- 0.7–0.2
- 79.1%
- Goals
- 1–0
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Dvorak | Schmaltz |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-03-05 | PHI 0–3 UTA | 0G 0A 0S | 1G 1A 2S |
| 2026-01-21 | PHI 4–5 UTA | 2G 1A 6S | 0G 2A 1S |
| 2025-01-14 | MTL 5–3 UTA | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 2A 0S |
| 2024-11-26 | MTL 2–3 UTA | 0G 1A 2S | 0G 2A 3S |
| 2022-12-19 | MTL 3–2 ARI | 1G 0A 2S | 1G 0A 2S |
| 2022-01-17 | MTL 2–5 ARI | 0G 0A 0S | 1G 2A 5S |
| 2018-02-12 | ARI 6–1 CHI | 1G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 3S |
| 2017-12-10 | ARI 1–3 CHI | 0G 0A 1S | 1G 0A 2S |
| 2017-10-21 | ARI 2–4 CHI | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 1S |
Every stat, side by side
Season values; bars are percentiles at each player's position (longer is better). Click a stat for its explainer.
Fantasy box score
Possession & shot quality (5-on-5 on-ice)
Transition, turnovers & faceoffs
Usage
Special teams & discipline
This week's schedule
Sep 28 to Oct 4. More games usually wins a weekly start/sit. Chips show how many fantasy points the opponent allows to the player's position (soft or tough), the Schedule Edge from rest and travel, and the likely opposing goalie with his save percentage. Projections use ESPN default points for the games left.
Christian Dvorak
3games (1 left)
1.1proj. ESPN pts
- Wed, Sep 30 vs PITOpp allows the fewest FP to CLikely vs Arturs Silovs (.888)
- Thu, Oct 1 @ NJDB2BOpp allows 8th-fewest FP to CSchedule edge −9.3 win%Likely vs Jake Allen (.904)
- Sat, Oct 3 vs CAR1.1 ptsOpp allows 13th-fewest FP to CSchedule edge +9.0 win%Likely vs Pyotr Kochetkov (.899)
Nick Schmaltz
3games (2 left)
3.1proj. ESPN pts
- Thu, Oct 1 vs CHIOpp allows 8th-most FP to CLikely vs Arvid Soderblom (.880)
- Sat, Oct 3 @ CBJ1.7 ptsOpp allows 16th-most FP to CSchedule edge −1.0 win%Likely vs Jet Greaves (.908)
- Sun, Oct 4 @ NYRB2B1.4 ptsOpp allows 15th-fewest FP to CSchedule edge −9.3 win%Likely vs Igor Shesterkin (.912)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Christian Dvorak or Nick Schmaltz in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Nick Schmaltz projects to 2.05 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Christian Dvorak's 1.42. Dvorak had 51 points in 80 games; Schmaltz had 74 in 82 games. Check this week's games and your league's scoring in the fantasy panel above, since more games usually decide a weekly start.
- Who is better, Christian Dvorak or Nick Schmaltz?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Nick Schmaltz leads in 27 of 36 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
- How have Dvorak and Schmaltz done against each other?
- In 9 games against each other in our data, Dvorak's team went 3–6. Dvorak had 6 points (4 goals) and Schmaltz had 13 (4 goals).
- Who wins more faceoffs, Dvorak or Schmaltz?
- Against each other, Dvorak has won 14 and Schmaltz 4 of their 18 head-to-head draws.
2025-26 regular season from NHL play-by-play, shift charts and NHL EDGE, processed by Edgehalla. Head-to-head covers every loaded season (play-by-play from 2019-20; on-ice matchups from 2025-26).Compare other players →